Passengers get airline ok

Several airlines on Saturday gave the green light to passengers wanting to fly to the United States who come from countries hit by President Donald Trump's travel ban after a US court suspended his order. Seattle US District Judge James Robart on Friday blocked Trump's controversial ban on travellers from seven Muslim countries, prompting a furious president to condemn it as a "ridiculous" move which he would overturn.
Although some airlines said they were waiting to see how the situation develops, carriers including Air France, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa and Swiss Airways said they would carry nationals of the countries concerned if they have a valid visa. Following the court ruling, US authorities Saturday suspended the travel ban. "We have reversed the provisional revocation of visas," a State Department spokesman told AFP.
Among airlines confirming the greenlighting of passengers with valid visas, Air France told AFP that "since this morning we are applying with immediate effect the (US) judicial decision taken overnight. All passengers presenting themselves will embark once their papers are in order to travel to the United States."
Several other airlines confirmed on their websites they would carry visa-holding passengers even before news emerged of the State Department statement.
An official at Cairo airport indicated on condition of anonymity that carriers had received notice from JFK airport in New York it was dropping application of Trump's order for US-bound passengers with valid documentation following the court ruling suspending the presidential ban.
After the US court ruling, Swiss airline told AFP that "at the present time all passengers with valid travel documents can travel on any Swiss flights bound for the United States."
The carrier said it was in touch with US Customs and Border Protection and "we shall respect strictly conditions of entry into US territory."
Germany's Lufthansa stated: "The United States federal court has blocked the travel ban to the USA with immediate effect. Visitors ... holding a valid immigrant or non-immigrant visa for the US are again allowed to travel to the USA".
In Tehran, one travel agent advised Iranians wishing to fly to the USA to "take a place to any city this evening.
Low cost carrier Norwegian pointed to "uncertainties about US entry regulations" and advised passengers with questions to contact the US embassy for more information as "we have to follow the rules" on who may enter.